Yeah I'm positive about it. Today they've started us off with some low priority cases:- not a lot to do but it gives an orientation to all the filing and administration, which is half the work.

I can't figure out precisely who is in charge, which I think is a good thing. There's more people doing less work than I'm used to, also good.

The only deadlines are those imposed by the tribunal or the minister. If they come to us too late we can ask for an extension. If that is rejected we apologise and say we can't help. The kind of service we offer boils down to a single task: submitting country information reports, which basically involves compiling information from other sources that are relevant to the individual claim without being specific to it (which might, alas, otherwise amount to proffering immigration advice which is forbidden).

The basic law I need to know is simply the definition of a refugee under the convention, which I've already memorised. There are subtleties but that is the heart of it.

In time, it does sound as though you'll be in need of something more intellectually challenging Sol. In the meantime, it's good that you're in a job that has meaning for you, and sounds as though the people are OK.

The reports are perhaps more involved than I've made out. Also, more rarely, Amnesty will take on clients and represent them, and, indeed the other day when paired with a "buddy" I helped work on the issue of the privative clause and procedural fairness in refugee law (heady stuff). I'm told there will be other such opportunities, but we shall see.

Sol - sorry, I wasn't suggesting that the work was beneath you, or would not have it's share of challenges. Was more thinking that you would tire of it, once you had been there for a year or two and knew it all by rote, including things that might be novel or challenging now.

Of course, it can go the other way too: becoming quite specialist and expert within an important niche, and sticking with it, putting that expertise to continued good use.

It does sound as though this will keep you happily occupied for quite some time, and perhaps not as rote as I had feared for you. For that I'm glad.